FIM Superbike World Championship Monza, Italy May 12, 2007 Superpole Results: 1. Noriyuki HAGA (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:44.941 2. Troy BAYLISS (Ducati 999F07), 1:45.345 3. Max BIAGGI (Suzuki GSX-R1000K7), 1:45.415 4. Troy CORSER (Yamaha YZF-R1), 1:45.430 5. James TOSELAND (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:45.824 6. Karl MUGGERIDGE (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:46.232 7. Regis LACONI (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:46.437 8. Yukio KAGAYAMA (Suzuki GSX-R1000K7), 1:46.696 9. Michel FABRIZIO (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:46.753 10. Roberto ROLFO (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:46.758 11. Josh BROOKES (Honda CBR1000RR), 1:46.948 12. Lorenzo LANZI (Ducati 999F07), 1:47.067 13. Fonsi NIETO (Kawasaki ZX-10R), 1:47.145 14. Max NEUKIRCHNER (Suzuki GSX-R1000K6), 1:47.146 15. Ruben XAUS (Ducati 999F06), 1:47.553 16. Marco BORCIANI (Ducati 999F06), 1:47.721 More, from a press release issued by Team YZF Yamaha Haga on pole position, Nakatomi non starter Fantastic achievement for Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha) with a superb pole position, more than one second quicker than the previous track record! Shinichi Nakatomi will not be able to race this week end because of two broken bones in his foot. Haga demonstrated the qualities of the Yamaha R1 on the Monza circuit with an exceptional time of 1:44.941. He is in front of Troy Bayliss (Ducati), Max Biaggi (Suzuki) and his team mate Troy Corser while the World Championship leader James Toseland (Honda) is in 5th position. Shinichi Nakatomi: “I lost the front in a corner and when I re-joined there was a contact with another rider. I crashed and my bike fell on my foot, breaking two toes. An operation will not be necessary and I want to do the next race at Silverstone.” Martial Garcia (team-manager): “The accident happened when Nakatomi was doing a quick lap. One more time, we have some bad luck.” Qualifying results: 1-Haga (Yamaha), 2-Bayliss (Ducati), 3-Biaggi (Suzuki), 4-Corser (Yamaha), 5-Toseland (Honda) World Championship standings: 1-Toseland (Honda) 196 points, 2-Biaggi (Suzuki) 164, 3-Haga (Yamaha) 144, 4-Bayliss (Ducati) 128, 5-Corser (Yamaha) 114 –¦16-Nakatomi (Yamaha) 19 More, from a press release issued by HANNspree Ten Kate Honda: HANNspree Ten Kate Honda ready to race Following the second day of World Superbike qualifying at Monza today, HANNspree Ten Kate Honda’s James Tosleand will start tomorrow’s 18-lap race from the second row of the grid. Team-mate Roberto Rolfo qualified in tenth position for a third row start. Toseland has been consistently fast during the free practice and qualifying sessions at the 5.793km circuit and he entered this afternoon’s Superpole session as the second quickest rider. However, a small mistake on the infamous first chicane meant that he missed out on a place on the front row by four tenths of a second. His Superpole lap time was 1’45.824. Team-mate Rolfo has put in an impressive performance over the past two days and was hoping for a place in the second row today. He qualified for Superpole as the fifth fastest rider but lost time during his one-lap dash after falling victim to the same chicane as Toseland. The Italian rider set a time of 1’46.758 for tenth place on the grid. Ronald ten Kate, Team Manager: “Of course it is disappointing to see James move to the second row of the grid after he has led for virtually all the sessions this weekend. Basically it all went wrong at the first chicane, so that’s that. The good news is that we seem to be consistently fast so we are ready for a good race tomorrow and I am quite sure that James is motivated enough to give it a good go from the second row. It was almost the same situation for Roby, who lost most of his time in the first sector. He has moved down the grid as well, but he is confident about tomorrow. We are ready to race” James Toseland: “I’m really cross with myself because I made a mistake. I braked too late into the first chicane, missed the apex of the corner and that was the lap finished. There not much more I can say other than I’m looking forward to tomorrow, we’ve got a good race set up and it’s not the end of the world starting from the second row of the grid here. I am ready for tomorrow.” Roberto Rolfo: “I was feeling good this morning but this afternoon I am not so happy. The feeling on the bike this morning was really good and I improved my lap time on my own. I’ve never ridden a .46 lap here without a reference in front of me so I’m pleased with that. In the Superpole lap I think I was too hard on the brakes and I was wasn’t good with the gas on the exit to the first corner – this was the main problem. My target was to be in the second row, but I missed this by tenths of a second. Anyway, I will try my best tomorrow to pass the other riders and get up to the front.” More, from a press release issued by FGSport Group: HAGA OBLITERATES TRACK RECORD TO WIN SUPERPOLE FOURTH CAREER SUPERPOLE FOR HAGA IS ONE OF THE BEST EVER From third last away in the Superpole competition Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha Motor Italia) sent the sun-kissed Monza crowd wild after demolishing not just the previous track record but by also taking SBK racing into new Monza territory with a 1’44.941 lap – an average speed of 198.729kmph. In a day for records, Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Corse Kawasaki) had entered Superpole as the fastest rider, thanks to his final qualifying time of 1’45.593, before Haga’s astonishing Superpole lap wiped it from the record books. Also during Superpole, Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) set the best ever SBK top speed during Superpole, 315kmph. In the morning session Michael Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda) set the fastest top speed in all SBK history, breaking the 200mph mark with a best of 322kmph (200.5mph) on Monza’s 1193 metre long straight. BAYLISS SECOND FOR DUCATI AS BIAGGI MOVES ON UP Bayliss may have used his machine’s impressive aerodynamic package to register 215kmph in Superpole, but he had to give best to Haga after a blistering Superpole contest. Third fastest was the greatly improved Max Biaggi (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), who had a hard first day, but grew in confidence at Monza in every Saturday session and finished just ahead of yet another rider making a recovery from a tough first day, Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia). TOSELAND FIFTH QUICKEST DESPITE FIRST CHICANE ADVENTURE James Toseland (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) ran too wide into the first chicane at Monza, losing time he was never able to get back as he continued to an eventual fifth place. The next rider in Superpole was Aussie privateer Karl Muggeridge (Alto Evolution Honda) who has always been a big fan of Monza. The provisional pole sitter pre-Superpole, Regis Laconi (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse), was only seventh, despite his remarkable pre-Superpole lap. The last place on row two was secured by Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra), who went eighth. FABRIZIO LEADS OFF ROW THREE Michel Fabrizio (DFX Corse Honda) edged out the challenge of Roby Rolfo (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) to go ninth in Superpole, with Josh Brookes (Alto Evolution Honda) and Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati Xerox) completing the third row. STRUGGLE FOR TOP NAMES AS SUPERPOLE UNFOLDS Fonsi Nieto (PSG-1 Kawasaki Corse) was only 13th in Superpole, Max Neukirchner (Suzuki Germany) dropped to 14th after the specialised single flying lap of qualifying. Valencia race winner Ruben Xaus (Sterilgarda Ducati) dashed his hopes of promotion by finishing 15th, with his team-mate for this race Marco Borciani (Sterilgarda Ducati) 16th. WORLD SUPERSPORT – HONDA TRIO DOMINATE TIMES A new track best of 1’50.459 from Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) gave him pole at Monza; his third in succession after his first success at Valencia in round four. Sebastien Charpentier (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) was some 0.252 seconds from his team-mate, as Katsuaki Fujiwara (Althea Honda) continued his strong opening form to go third on the grid. Broc Parkes (Yamaha World SSP Racing) improved on his opening day to take the last starting place on the second row, with the fastest local rider, on a local bike, being Gianluca Nannelli (Caracchi Ducati SC). Fabien Foret (GIL Kawasaki) was sixth, just ahead of Barry Veneman (Pioneer Hoegee Suzuki) seventh – putting all five manufacturers in the championship into the top seven places. POS NO. RIDER BIKE TIME 1 41 Haga N. (JPN) Yamaha YZF-R1 1’44.941 2 21 Bayliss T. (AUS) Ducati 999 F07 1’45.345 3 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 1’45.415 4 11 Corser T. (AUS) Yamaha YZF-R1 1’45.430 5 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1’45.824 6 31 Muggeridge K. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.232 7 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’46.437 8 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K7 1’46.696 9 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.753 10 44 Rolfo R. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.758 11 25 Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 1’46.948 12 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 999 F07 1’47.067 13 10 Nieto F. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1’47.145 14 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R1000 K6 1’47.146 15 111 Xaus R. (ESP) Ducati 999 F06 1’47.553 16 20 Borciani M. (ITA) Ducati 999 F06 1’47.721 SUPERSTOCK 1000 FIM CUP – LOCALS COME GOOD AT MONZA Michele Pirro (Yamaha team Italia) led Claudio Corti (Team Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha) in final qualifying, taking his second pole of 2007, but the MV Agusta challenge pushed on somewhat compared to the opening day, as Danilo Dell’Omo (Unionbike GI Motorsport) went third. SUPERSTOCK 600 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP – MAGNONI WINS Michele Magnoni (Bevilacqua Yamaha) held off Gregg Black (Capaul Black Racing Yamaha) in a thrilling 600 race, won by only 0.079 seconds. More, from a press release issued by Scuderia SC Caracchi: SECOND ROW FOR NANNELLI AT MONZA The Italian sunshine welcomed once more at Monza the rider for the final practice day for the sixth round of World Superbike and Supersport. Good results for the Team SC Caracchi riders, as well the misfortune visited today too the team garage. In Supersport Gianluca Nannelli scored an excellent performance with the fifth fastest overall, fourth fastest of today’s session, that give him a position in the top of the second row of the grid. The twin 749R, managed by the technical staff of Franco Farnè, showed once more is fantastic top speed and a quite good setting, allowing to “Nanna” to improve his lap time record more as one second and half compared to his 2005 performance that gave to Nannelli and 749R their first world rostrum place. “I’m rather satisfied of today’s result, but I regret to fail the front row!” has been the comment of the day by Gianluca Nannelli at the end of practices. “For a whisker like 0,116 seconds I could have the track free in front of me, and that in a battle like Supersport races that’s very important. The engine is powerful, we could have a little improvement in the handling, but we had a good package and so we preferred to not made any change. For my fast lap I push very hard, I don’t believe I could get something better. I have a good pace for the race, during the morning we have done a long run and I rode constantly in 1’51″, quite good. The team’s guys have been fantastic and together we worked in an excellent way during those practice day. Tomorrow it will be very important the start and to remain in the leaders group, then we’ll see how the race will develop lap by lap.” In Superbike Jakub Smrz has been once more no lucky. When he rejoined the track with soft tyres for try a fast lap, the gearbox shifter moved on the shaft, touching the fairing. In such conditions “Kuba” missed the Superpole admission for a whisker. Despite that trouble Jakub recorded a lap time that could allow him to the Superpole, but in the overall qualifying he has been out because somebody, slower today, recorded a better lap time yesterday. “The guys changed the engine yesterday.” declared Jakub Smrz at the end of the day. “During the final qualifying session everything was running well, but at the end of the session, when I wear the soft tyres for a fast lap, the gearbox shifter lever moved and I couldn’t use the gear correctly. In such condition I recorded the 15th fastest of the session, just behind Borciani and Lanzi. Unlucky thathas been not sufficient because some rider behind me yesterday were faster and in the total qualifying passed me. I’m a bit disappointed because I like the track and the bike, looking the package, is good, but this stupid trouble prevent us to have a better place in the grid. Then, during the last session in the afternoon, I recorded a good pace for several laps, so I’m confident in a good race tomorrow.” More, from a press release issued by Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra: 2007 Superbike World Championship Round 6, Monza, Italy Circuit: 5.793 kms. Weather: Dr, mostly sunny 23-28 C. Final qualifying, Saturday 12th May FRONT ROW FOR MAX! Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Max Biaggi rode a superb Superpole at Monza today and will start tomorrow’s pair of 18-lap races from the front row of the grid. Throughout the season, Max has increased his feeling for the Pirelli qualifiers and in today’s Superpole he took over half a second off his previous best lap time and finished with the third fastest lap in the sixteen rider shoot-out. His team mate Yukio Kagayama had been struggling a little in regular qualifying, but he too put in a good Superpole lap to bag a place on the second row of the grid. Yukio’s good friend, Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha), posted the fastest lap in Superpole, smashing the lap record by almost two seconds in the process. Reigning champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati) is second, with Max third and Troy Corser (Yamaha) fourth. MAX – 3rd, 1:45.415 This is only my sixth Superpole and I think I am becoming more and more used to it. It doesn’t stress me and, because I understand the qualifying tyres a lot better, I am confident when I go out and do the flying lap. I am surprised and happy how well the sticky tyres are working; the grip is good and it makes these kind of laps easier to deal with. Monza is a track where tactics are important it’s also a place where slipstreaming and drafting is part of the game. I didn’t really have any problems today except in some high speedcorners when the front feeling was not so good. That’s when it’s difficult to find the limit, but it’s something that we are working on and I’m sure we can improve it. Here, it’s so important to have a bike that accelerates well and to know exactly where and when to brake. It’s easy to lose a tenth of a second here and there and that can be the difference between a good result and an average one. I don’t think anybody is going to make a break tomorrow and I think it could be four or five riders all fighting until the end in both races. But, I’m looking forward to that kind of battle and enjoying myself at the same time. YUKIO – 8th, 1:46.696 We have spent a lot of time working, working, working. And a lot of that time has been on our ignition system and trying to develop it. This track has many high-speed corners and the entries to these corners are critical if you want to make good laps. At the moment, the rear stability is not perfect and the bike is sliding a little. The feeling is a bit harsh and I do not like it, so we have to try and improve it. My engine today did not feel so strong and I feel I am losing out to the other top riders. I need better engine acceleration because Monza is a track where you have to have good engine performance and acceleration otherwise you cannot make any advantage when you pull out the slipstream and try to go past another rider. It is going to be a long, hard day tomorrow and although my body is not yet 100%, I will be fighting hard for two good results. More, from a press release issued by Xerox Ducati: BAYLISS TAKES STORMING FRONT ROW GRID SLOT FOR DUCATI XEROX AT MONZA Monza (Italy), Saturday 12 May: Troy Bayliss rode a storming Superpole lap at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza this afternoon to line up second on the starting-grid for tomorrow’s Italian Round of the World Superbike Championship. The Australian’s time of 1’45.345 was only bettered by polesitter Noriyuki Haga who was four-tenths of a second quicker on his Yamaha. Max Biaggi (Suzuki) and Troy Corser (Yamaha) make up the front row ahead of points leader James Toseland (Honda), while Ducati Xerox team-mate Lorenzo Lanzi recorded a 1’47.067 to go twelfth quickest. “It all went well” declared Troy. “Superpole is always a difficult one especially here in Monza, there are a few nerves flying around because it’s pretty special here. It’s been a little bit up and down for us this weekend and we’ve had a few interruptions but we’re getting there. I’ve been struggling a little bit with the bike moving around all weekend so we have to work a little bit more on that and make a small change tomorrow morning but I’m happy to start on the front row, its very important here. It’s going to be a very hard day tomorrow. I’m really struggling in the second split but going really strong in the first and last split which is good because I can always tailback on the start-finish straight. Everyone’s going so fast that it could be quite dramatic tomorrow!” “We tried to limit the damage in Superpole, but as I was the first rider to go out the track was not very quick” commented Lorenzo. “We could see that because the last eight guys all went well. I improved on my last year’s time, we’ll see what the races are like tomorrow but they are not going to be easy. I did a lot of laps with different tyres and we now have a clear idea on which one to choose. I want to make a good start to remain with the leading group. I knew that this was going to be the most difficult track on the entire world championship calendar, but the bike is going well and I hope to do a couple of good races tomorrow. Times: 1. Haga (Yamaha) 1’44.941; 2. Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) 1’45.345; 3. Biaggi (Suzuki) 1’45.415; 4. Corser (Yamaha) 1’45.430; 5. Toseland (Honda) 1’45.824; 6. Muggeridge (Honda) 1’46.232; 7. Laconi (Kawasaki) 1’46.437; 8. Kagayama (Suzuki) 1’46.696; 9. Fabrizio (Honda) 1’46.753; 10. Rolfo (Honda) 1’46.758. More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist: FRONT ROW FOR TROY! Despite the problems yesterday, Troy stormed to the fourth quickest time in Superpole and will line up on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s pair of 18-lap races at Monza. A change of fork setting was basically all it took Troy to go from unhappy entering the turns to happy and he was able to slash his lap time by over eight tenths of a second! Last night Troy and the team sat down, looked at all the data and telemetry and decided that the fork settings were probably causing the problem. So the fork set-up was altered and the improvement meant Troy was able to push a lot harder. Troy’s team mate Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha), posted the fastest lap in Superpole, smashing the lap record by almost two seconds in the process. Reigning champion Troy Bayliss (Ducati) was second, with Max Biaggi (Suzuki) third and Troy fourth. TROY – 4th, 1:45.430 Well, that’s a lot better and I was able to go for it more today then yesterday. After qualifying yesterday the team and I had a meeting and looked at all the data to try and find out why I was having problems entering the turns. Yesterday I didn’t have much confidence going into the turns, but after we changed the front fork set-up, there was a big improvement in the feel and I started to feel much happier. On my Superpole lap, I was a bit cautious going into the first chicane because I had overshot there twice before and that lost me a little time. I then made up some time on the next two splits and got on the front row of the grid. After yesterday it feels really good to be on the front row of the grid, especially as this is the team’s home round. The bike feels good and I am really looking forward to tomorrow and giving the team and the fans a good result.